Aum Shinrikyo

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• Aum Shinrikyo

The Supreme Truth
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Shoko Asahara

• Shoko Asahara, born in 1955 as Chizuo Matsumoto

-the son of a tatami straw mat maker -He was
partially blind at birth, attended a school for
the blind.

• 1980's he opened a folk medicine shop and a
  school for yoga

• Traveled to the Himalayas to study Buddhism
  and Hinduism

• Interest in the Book of Revelation and Prophecy
  of Nostradamus

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Group Background

• Founded in 1987, it combines the elements of
  Buddhism with Christianity.

• Aum is a sacred Hindu syllable, and Shinri Kyo
  means "supreme truth

• It has been rejected as a legitimate Buddhist
  faith group by Buddhist leaders in Japan

• At least nine biological attacks on different
  installations in Japan.

Targets included the Legislature, the Imperial
Palace, the U.S. base at Yokosuka.
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Beliefs Practices

• Focused on Ascetic practice (discipline) and
  Yogic technique (mind over body empowerment)

• Transmigration and rebirth, the world of
  suffering, and the goal of
  better rebirths and enlightenment through
  meditation

• The primary deity in Aum is Shiva, the god of
  destruction
• -This deity embodies Aum's main focus, the
  creation and destruction of the universe.

• Sermon three main parts "the problem," "the
  ideal," and "the way"

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Life Style

• Offers liberation from suffering and illness

-eclectic Buddhist movement

• Importance of nuclear shelters and other
  such preparations

-"Lotus Village Plan"

• Followers believed in solitude for their own
  welfare

-Drugs to keep them docile
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Terrorism Violence

• AUM is still under the strong influence of
  45-year-old founder Shoko Asahara, who has
  been detained since May 1995

• Tried on various charges, including the 1995
  sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system that
  left 12 people dead and thousands injured.

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Apocalyptic Vision

• Followers promised that they will develop
• supernatural powers

• Members must work to transfer evil energy into
• positive energy and avoid mass destruction via
  
• nuclear war.

-To be specific, 30,000 had to achieve
liberation through Asahara's teachings to save
the world from such a fate.
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Website links

• http//www.aum-shinrokyo.com/english/index.htm
• http//www.cesnur.org/testi/aum1.htm
• CHRONOLOGY OF AUMS ACTIVITITES
  http//cns.miis.edu/pubs/reports/pdfs/aum_chrn.pdf